ACA Marketplace, in plain English
Buying your own health insurance in the United States is confusing, and since the start of 2026 it has become more expensive for millions of people. The enhanced premium tax credits that lowered Marketplace prices from 2021 through 2025 expired on December 31, 2025, the old 400% federal poverty level cliff is back, and benchmark premiums rose by an average of 26% in 2026. This site explains, in plain English, how the Marketplace works now, who qualifies for help, what each plan actually costs, and what to do when life changes.
Start here, in five minutes
If you have never bought on the Marketplace, start with the Marketplace explained guide. If you want to know what help you can get, read subsidies explained and then the 2026 subsidy cliff. If you are choosing a plan this week, read metal tiers and the four costs before you compare premiums. If you just lost a job, go straight to losing employer coverage: you have 60 days, and the clock is already running.
All eleven guides
How the system works
Marketplace explained — HealthCare.gov, state exchanges, essential health benefits, and why buying on the Marketplace matters. Open vs. special enrollment — the November 1 to January 15 window, and the 60-day windows that open after life events.
Money: subsidies, income, and tiers
Subsidies explained — premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions. The 2026 subsidy cliff — what expired, who pays more, and what 2027 looks like. MAGI income — what counts as income, with worked examples. Metal tiers — Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum by actuarial value. The four costs — deductibles, copays, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximums. Reconciling at tax time — Form 8962 and why refunds shrink.
Life changes and other programs
Freelancers and gig workers — Marketplace, COBRA, or a spouse's plan. Losing employer coverage — the 60-day window, step by step. Marketplace vs. Medicaid vs. Medicare — which program you belong in, and when you switch.
What this site will not do
This site will not tell you which plan to buy, what you will pay, or whether you qualify. Only your marketplace application, using your household, income, age, and area, can do that. It will not sell you insurance, and it is not affiliated with HealthCare.gov, any state marketplace, or any insurer. What it will do is explain the rules clearly enough that you can read your own marketplace result and spot when something looks wrong.
Sources: HealthCare.gov; Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; KFF, ACA Marketplace analyses for 2026 and 2027; Internal Revenue Service, Form 8962 guidance.